Shown are volunteers from Helping Hands at the 2024 Easter Basket event. Courtesy photo

ORANGEVALE/FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - The Orangevale Fair Oaks Spring Food Drive returns with a heartwarming twist, combining efforts Helping Hands OV-Orangevale-Fair Oaks’ Easter Baskets for Kids in Need Drive.

In addition to the annual drive-through food collection of neighborhood drives and individual donations, prearranged Easter basket donations will be collected for children in need. The community is invited to stay for Easter fun, including face painting, treats and photos with the Easter bunny. 

On Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to noon, residents are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food donations at the Orangevale Fair Oaks Food Bank. Easter basket donations, which have been pre-matched with families, will be collected from 9 to 11 a.m. The celebration will last through noon. 

“Every year, we’re amazed by how generous our community is,” said Sydnie Anderson, president of Helping Hands OV-Orangevale-Fair Oaks. “From donating Easter baskets to supporting the food drive, it’s a heartwarming reminder that together, we can make a huge impact on the lives of local families.”

This year, the food bank is encouraging residents to take food collection a step further by organizing mini neighborhood drives. Even small efforts add up: if just 10 neighbors each fill a bag, neighborhood by neighborhood, the collective impact can quickly replenish food bank shelves. Helping Hands OV-Orangevale-Fair Oaks makes it easy by providing printable fliers to distribute that invite neighbors to leave filled bags on their porches for pickup. Participants can then deliver their trunkful of donations to the food bank on April 12.

The impact of organized efforts is undeniable. According to Orangevale Fair Oaks Food Bank Director Andrea Scollay, more than 50% of donations at community drives come from neighborhood-led efforts. Last year, congregations that distributed collection bags to their neighbors delivered several truckloads of food a piece. A local Scout troop can bring more than 1,100 pounds of food, while two Orangevale Woman’s Club members gathered more than 700 pounds through a single neighborhood outreach.

In addition to food donations, there is a pressing need for Easter baskets. The deadline to register to donate is Saturday, March 22. As of March 14, more than 60 families needed basket sponsors of the 180 receiving baskets this year. The initiative follows an adopt-a-child model, where donors receive details about a child’s age, gender, clothing size, favorite activities and any food allergies to create a personalized Easter basket. It’s a simple but meaningful way to bring joy to children facing hardship this Easter.

For neighborhood fliers and volunteer opportunities, visit JustServe.org and search for “Spring Community Food Drive” or go directly to ovfofb.org/host-a-food-drive.

To donate an Easter basket, register by March 22 at forms.gle/etwpR1DwVsAwWxAn7.